ABSTRACT The prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and sickle cell trait (SCT) may vary within very close localities in malaria endemic areas due to dynamics in malaria incidence and demographics. Immunoglobulin-G (IgG) antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) circumsporozoite protein (CSP) and apical membrane antigen-1 (AMA1) confer protection against malaria. Both G6PD deficiency and SCT increase resistance to Pf malaria and it is not well understood if this...
Abstract Ecosystem nutrient availability depends on the balance between rates of nutrient inputs and losses. Nutrients may be lost through fire and displacement of ash, herbivory, leaching and volatilization. The main pathways through which nutrients may be acquired are weathering of rock and atmospheric deposition. Symbiotic and free-living diazotrophic bacteria and blue green algae also contribute N. In ecosystems with limited occurrence of N2-fixation and occurring on low-nutrient bedrock,...
ABSTRACT Yellow maize is used as a raw material in many food industries but its use as an adjunct in beer brewing has not received much attention. This study was carried out at Delta Beverages Southerton Plant, Harare, to determine the suitability of yellow maize as an adjunct in larger beer brewing in terms of proximate analysis of its milled grits and wort analysis. The proximate composition of the yellow maize milled grits was determined through analysis of moisture content, gelatinization...
ABSTRACT Malaria is the main cause of paediatric morbidity and mortality in holoendemic areas. The populations in these areas have similar transmission intensity and infection rates of Plasmodium falciparum malaria but present different malaria outcomes. The cause of the different clinical outcomes is poorly understood. Pf. has exerted selective pressure on the human genome leading to genetic variability in the host’s immune response genes mediating protection and susceptibility to Pf. mala...
ABSTRACT Management of diabetes mellitus using conventional drugs is either unaffordable, unavailable or has undesirable side effects. Medicinal plants such as Zanthoxylum chalybeum (Rutaceae) have found prominence in management of diabetes and previous studies showed the efficacies of aqueous root and stem bark against in vivo alloxan and streptozotocin–induced diabetes in rats. However, the phytochemical evidence for these activities was never established. Therefore, this study was to est...
ABSTRACT Bacterial biofilms remain a major public health burden. Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm is the predominant cause of biofilm-associated infections. Kisumu county has a high circulation of antibiotic resistance genes, which is attributable to S. epidermidis biofilm, necessitating effective S. epidermidis biofilm control. Given the high tendency of bacteria to develop resistance to antibiotics, S. epidermidis biofilm control using physico-chemical disinfection is a suitable approach....
Abstract Rhizosphere studies of two local green vegetables, Celpsia argentea Linn and Hibiscus esculentus. Linn (new name Abelmoschus esculentus) were studied from vegetative stage to senescence. The viable seeds of both vegetables were collected and planted on garden beds made from sandy loam soil. Samples were collected at two-week intervals at 9.00 hrs in the the morning. Morphologically, A. esculentus (okra) had 3 leaves with more dense rooting system at 2 weeks than C.argentea (solo) wit...
ABSTRACT Juttadinteria albata is a leaf succulent plant species endemic to the southern Namib in the Succulent Karoo in Sendelingsdrif near the Orange River. The proposed strip mining for diamonds at NAMDEB‟s new Sendelingsdrif mine may contribute to the loss of up to 39% of J. albata population. This may increase the risks of extinction for J. albata and species which may be interacting with it. The aim of the study was to investigate the biology of J. albata for ecological restoration po...
ABSTRACT Malaria is on the decline in Namibia and the country is moving towards pre-elimination of the disease. However, some communities preferring traditional medicines and not accepting allopathic medicine may prevent elimination. Ethnomedicines need to be integrated into mainstream malaria case management to achieve malaria elimination by 2020. To do so, they need to be documented and validated to allow their safe and effective use. Seven indigenous plants were investigated for antiplasmo...
ABSTRACT Namibia had a tuberculosis (TB) case notification rate of 589 per 100 000 population in 2010. TB diagnostic methods, especially the conventional microbial culture to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), takes long to produce results and those with active TB can spread the infection and treatment is delayed. Immunodiagnosis of TB by interferon-gamma (IFN-ɣ) release assays is relatively very rapid, in comparison to culture, as results can be obtained within 24 hours. T...
ABSTRACT It is generally assumed that herbivores acquire gastrointestinal anthrax by ingesting spores, hence information on foraging behaviour of ungulates can be a fundamental component in understanding epidemiology of anthrax. This study investigated seasonal foraging behaviour in relation to the timing of anthrax mortalities in zebras (wet season, anthrax peak) and elephants (dry season, anthrax peak) in Etosha National Park. Zebra diet composition and foraging efficiency was determined us...
ABSTRACT Moringa ovalifolia (African Moringa) is endemic to southern Africa, and it is distributed from southern to central Namibia to south western Angola. At the moment, little is documented on the phytochemical content, miro-nutrients and antioxidant activities of M. ovalifolia. Hence, this study was aimed at evaluating the phytochemical, micro- nutritients and antioxidant activities of M. ovalifolia. Fresh Moringa leaves, bark, flowers and seeds (ponds) were collected from five different ...
ABSTRACT Nutritional levels can have profound impact on individuals living with HIV/AIDS and potentially hinder the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART). But sufficient data is lacking to establish a strong relationship especially in Namibia. In this study, the relationship between CD4 counts, viral load (VL), prescribed first line antiretroviral combinations, micronutrient levels and age was explored. Data spanning from 2006 to 2015 were retrospectively collected from Katutura State...
Abstract This paper employ various econometric techniques to analyze the determinants of inflation in Namibia, focusing particularly on the relationships that exist between the Namibian price, as the dependant variable, and the real Gross Domestics Product, Broad money supply, interest rate, and South African Price index as well as the United States price index, being the explanatory variables and probable determinants of inflation rate in Namibia.. Inflation equations that were estimated use...
ABSTRACT Elephants like most animals have different body condition, which in many cases is usually a reflection of their body fat content, food availability, presence or absence of diseases or disorders. Body condition in elephants and other factors that might affect it are not well studied. This study investigated the body condition of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) around the Mushara Waterhole in Etosha National Park, Namibia. The study focussed on possible correlations of body cond...